New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-24
PRICE THREE CENTS.
RECTOR NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
HIS OWN INJURY MAY PROVE FATAL.

HIS OWN INJURY MAY PROVE FATAL.
THE BULLET EXTRACTED FROM MRS wARp-rHB
CHURCH CLOSED UNTIL SUNDAY.
EnSlcwood had not recovered yesterday from
the shock Of Rector Wards mad attempt to kin
his wife and daughter and then put bullsd
through his own BRAIN The clergymans strange
freak Of insanity, with its probable causes and
precursory signs, was the absorbing topic Of tale
everywhere. The little church In Eaglest.,
where Ash Wednesday services should have been
going on, was closed and people were turned away
an day by little notice in writing posted on the
main door. 1t stated that no services could DO
expected there until next Sunday. Many curious
passersby stopped to read the notice and others
fingered the sidewalk to gaze fruitlessly UP al
the shaded windows of the two-storicd frame
Queen Anne parsonage near by.
Tho Enslewood Protective Society had installed
itself there, and with the aid of two cOnstables-
one sworn in for the occasion-patrolcd the house.
None but tho physicians, nurses and near friends
OF the rectors family was admitted, VI course.
Mr.. Ward lay upstairs looked after by Mrs.
Currie, the wifo of the family physician, and q
professional nurse Mrs. Wards sister, Mrs. Aaron
j. Vanderpoel, of New-Yorl<. had gone out on an
carly train on Tuesday, and Mr.. Vanderpocl arrived
yesterday morning. These two, with Mrs. Hall.
the housekceper Mr.. Wards cousin), were in
condition seemed to have improved greatly during
Tuesday night. She had slept a little and had
recovered fairly well from the nervous prostraI
ton which followed the shock Of the pistol shot.
She collected enough apparently to endure
an operatiOn-under ether, OF cOursc-by which
the doctors in attendance hoped TO reach and
extract the ball.
DR.. Stimson, q well known New-Yorlx surgeon.
was called out to direct the operation. The
bullet had passed through the cheek downward
and was lodsed in the lower jaw-bone. Ether waa
given to the patient and the ball was skillfnly
and successfully taken out, Drs. Currie and
Banks, of Englewood assisting Dr. Stimson. The
bullet was embedded firmly in the jaw. some bits
Of bone having to be broken of to loosen 1t.
Its sharp point had been fattened out for nearly
half its length forming big fange with rough
edge at the point of impact. Mrs. Ward bore the
operation Unexpectedly well. and If there Is no
reaction from the effort and no fever sets sets IN
she will be, as the doctors think, on fair way
to recovery. She has suffered greatly from pain.
however. and her health has been delicate.
Mr.. Ward, too, was able to sleep little under
the influence Of morphia on Tuesday, but has
been suffering excruciating pain In his wakefm
moments His case took q sharp turn for ehd
worse yesterday and the family physician. Dr!
Currie, said last night that there was strong
likelihood that he would die. Dr. Currie prpbed
for the bullet, which the rector had driven an
inch and q half into his skull. 1t was found.
however, that nothing In the way OF an opera
tion could be attempted. 1t Is doubtful whether
the ball can be extracted, and the doctors VIII
try it only a last measure OF heroic treatment.
Inflammation and bood-poisonng are feared 10
they come, they are almost certain to prove
fatal.
Mr. Ward is now to all appearances sound in
mind and has been so ever since the morning
tha cbp pfinU Ia n
| arrived at the house only thIec hours after the
| affair was over that he sadly regretted the
accident and was profuse. almost maudlin, IN
his professions Of contrition. Dr. Banks has been
made to say that he smelt iquor on the rectors
breath then and that Mr.. Ward told him ne had
drunk some whiskey after the shooting MIS-
| Ward Is sure however, That her husband had noo
been drinking. Mr. Ward could give 10 furthen
explanation yesterday Of his actions on Tuesday
morning than that lie fred the shots in blind
frenzy. lie disclaimed responsibility for thc
shooting To DIR. Currie, and yesterday afternoon
he sent some messages to his WIFE asking f0r'
civeness She, of course Is convinced that ne was
Iout OF his mind when he shot her, and SO are all
of her friends. No ste viii lie taken TO prose-
cute the rector un'esS Mrs. Ward should die.
The En- lewood Protective Association has taken
the whole case in hand, at the suggestion or Tho
DistrictAuorney.
Evidences continue TO multiply In Englewoou
of Mr. Wards strange state Of mind for the las6
week or ten days. His calling at DIR. Curries on
Monday afternoon with his clothing disarranged
and his necktie tapping under his ear has already
been mentioned. Only q few evenings asO ho
rushed into the office of the local paper in q
great futter and respiration, and wanted some.
thing done Immediately by the editors toward
exrosing some cases Of cruelty to animals which
he said he had seen and heard of, lie had moo
n cart a few minutes before which he thoiighu
too heavy for the horse hitched to it TO pull ur
The steep hills of EnglewOod, and he insisted on
the drivers getting down and walking the morse
back to his stable. lie unusually flushed eiiu
excited and made queer impression Oh all tha
people in the news! aper Office at the time.
His father, CAPTAIN James Ii. ward, was
naval officer in the civil war and was killed on
tho James River while trying TO run by one %
the rebel batteries near Richmond lie has had
n good deal of trouble, too, with brother who
has been in an insane asy lum and who involved
him. while at LARGE in some financial losses. lilo
comes of an eccentric family, said DR.. Banks last
nj hit land he will never recover mentally fiom
the effects Of this shock, fancy even If he does
recover bodily health
Mr.. Ward is a cousin of the sculptor, D. T. A.
Ward.
The rcctory in Eage-st. has had an unfortunate
history One night, some five years ago, when
the Rev Mr.. Paine living IN IL, ms WHO
disanpcared and for o wholc day no trace could
.ha foupd Of her She was discovered finally al
most hurled i'm the sand under neighborlng
culyer. She had crawlcd in under the bridge
IA shelter herself from an approaching storm, the
townspeople thought, and just how she met hcr
death has been mystery ever since.
ID